Parachute pack



Aug. 24, 1954 L. P. FRIEDER Er AL PARACHUTE PACK Fild March 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTTORNE Y US- 24, 1954 l.. P. FRIEDER Er AL 2,687,263

PARACHUTE PACK Filed March 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 0 l? FP/EDEQ ALTER 5. F/NKs/V Y HTTOPA/EY Aug. 24, 1954 L. P. FRIEDER Er AL PARACHUTE PACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1951 WALTER 5.

Aug. 24, 1954 L. P. FRIEDER Er AL 2,687,263

PARACHUTE PACK Filed Hatch 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 50114420 F. ,Ce/EDE@ BY/QLIL S-Qmu..

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 Finken, Brooklyn, N. Y.

to said Frieder said Finken assignor Application March 9, 1951, Serial No. 214,655'

Ourinvention relates to a parachute pack and more-particularly to an improved parachute pack adapted to be used for dropping loads from airplanes.

Parachute packs are known to the art and are adapted to house a parachute lto protect it and in a' manner to permit vthe ready and certain opening of the parachute in use. The packs of the prior art have usually been designedfor specific loads and are usually expensive to construct.

One object of our invention is to provid-e a pack adapted to house a parachute to protect it against moisture, mildew and from destructive insects.`

Another object of our invention is to provide a `parachute pack in which the parachute may be readily and expeditiously streamed for use and will be certain in its operation.

Another object of our invention is to provide a parachute pack which may be readily attached to a variety of loads without'disassembling the pack.

Another object of our invention is to provide a parachute pack in which the parachute is streamed in a predetermined sequence ensuring that it will operate without fouling.

Another object of our invention is to provide a parachute pack which is inexpensive in construction while capable of protecting the parachute and housing it in a manner to permit ready and certainoperation and attachment to a variety of loads.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear'from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which likefreference numerals are lused -to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a parachute pack showing one embodiment of our invention illustrating the complete pack.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts of the pack omitted in order to show the false bottom and the topcover of the assembly more clearly.

Figure 3 is a sectional view drawn on an enlarged scale taken along the line 3-3 of Figure`2,

Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the manner of connecting the static line to the cover and the parachute, -together with the shroud line stowage arrangement.

Figure V5 is a perspective view of Ytheassembly at the start of the drop.

Figure 6 shows the position of parts after the cover has been ripped 'loose by the static line.

Figure 7 shows the position of parts just after theparachute-securing assembly has been broken withy the parachute being pulled out of the container.l

Figurei Lisaview ofv thewpartsA showingthe 14 Claims. (Cl. 2444-148) 2 shroud lines beginning to unfurl from the shroud liner loop holder. f

Figure 9 is a view showing the position of parts just after the parachute hem-securing link isruptured.

Figure 10 is the position of parts just after the crown weak link is ruptured.

Figure 11 is a view showing the position of parts during descent with a load being carried by' the load attaching bridle.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of a container made of berboard, cardboard or the like, adapted to house the parachute. The container is provided with a false bottom made' of cardboard or Ithe like to which the shroud line loops are secured. The false bottom acts as a shroud/line loop holder for holding the shroud line loops. bottom of the container by means of adhesive or the like, if desired, after the loops have been assembled upon the false bottom. The shroud lines Iterminate in a pair of rattails to which a bridle for carrying the load is secured. The parachute itself is folded in any desired manner in segments, such asalong the gores, from crown to-hem. The segments are secured by a rupturable link adjacent the hem adapted to be broken either by the streaming of the parachute or by the ltug on the shroud lines. The crown is provided with a bridle which is secured to the static line by meansv of a rupturable link. The parachute is folded upon itself and secured within `the container by means of tapes including a weak link or links which are attached to the static line. The cover is secured to the assembly by the static line running around the edge of thev cover. The container is provided with tie tapes to secure it to the load. The bridle is provided with shackles adapted to be pulled through openings in the container and attached to the load. The arrangement is such that when the assembly isdropped the sta-tic line will `rip the cover oil along a peripheral joint, then break the parachute-securing weak link, pull the parachute out of the container, break ythe hem-securing weak link, permitting the bridle to take the load. ripping through the sides of the container.

More particularly, referring now to the drawings, the container 2t may be made out of cardboard,4 carton paper, i'lberboard, and the like. For purposes oi illustration and not by way of limitation", we will describe' an assembly for a parachute twenty-four feet in diameter madeof four-ounce muslin adaptedl to support loads between five hundred pounds and six hundred pounds; dropped at velocities of approximately two hundred' miles'per hour. The container'Zil is madeof cartonpaper 3% of an inch thick. The container- 2t is shown' rectangular, having a length ofapproximately eighteen inches, and a `width of approximately fteen inches, and a height of approximately twelve inches.v It is tol This bottom may be secured to the be understood, of course, that the shape of the container is immaterial and it may be made of circular or any other desired shape. White cotton tapes 22, having 35o-pound tensile strength,

are secured to the sides of the container or housing 20. These are for the purpose of securing the housing to the load during the drop. It is understood, of course, that the container 2c does not support the load. This is supported by the parachute shroud lines and bridle, as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter. The cotton tapes 22 are secured to SGO-pound tensile strength rayon tapes 24. One Wall 26 of the container is formed with a pair of openings 218 normally covered by flaps 3B giving access to the loading attaching shackles 32, as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter. To this wall 26 we secure a pair of rayon tapes 34 and 3G similar to tapes 24. To the opposite wall of the container 2B we secure asecond pair of tapes 33 and 4S). The end of tape 34 is normally secured to tape 40 by means of a weak link, say, 1GO-pound rayon braid 42. The tape 36 is secured to the end of tape 38 by means of a similar weak link 44, it being understood, of course, that the tapes 34 and 4B and 36 and 33 are tied around the entire parachute assembly and shroud lines adapted to hold the assembly within the container 20, as Iwill be described more fully hereinafter. A pair of weak link straps 46 and 4t are secured to each other by means of a loop 50 of 5Go-pound rayon braid. The strap 46 is shorter than the strap 48. The loop 50 is secured to the static line 52 which is made of 1000- pound rayon braid. As will be described hereinafterJ the static line is adapted to break the Weak links 42 and 44. The difference in length of the weak link strap 45 over the length of the weak link strap 43 enables the weak link 42 to be broken a fraction of a second before the weak link strap 48 breaks the weak link 44. The weak link straps may be made out of heavy cotton webbing.

A false bottom 54 is provided with a pair of cotton tapes 55 formed with loops in which the shroud lines 53 are adapted to be stowed. The ends of the shroud lines are divided into two groups, one of which is secured to a ring 60 and the other of which is secured to a ring 62. The rings B and 62 pass through loops formed on the ends of a pair of riser straps 54 to which loadsupporting shackles 32 are secured. A cross strap 65 extends between the riser straps 64. The other ends of the shroud lines are secured to the parachute canopy 68 in any desired manner. The parachute canopy is folded from crown to hem along its gores and the folded .parachute is secured by means of a weak link made of '75- pound rayon. The group of shrouds extend from the parachute hem through the weak link 1D and then to the false bottom stowage. The parachute is folded back and forth, as shown in Figure 4 so that it will t within the container 20. Adjacent the crown of the parachute we provide a bridle f2 which is attached to the static cord 52 by means of a weak link i4 made of 25o-pound rayon braid. The upper end of the static cord 52 extends around the outside of the junction between the cover 16 and the container 2U, being secured in this position by means of a tape 'I8 which performs the function of holding the cover to the container 20. The tape 18 is secured to the inside of the cover at 80 and extends downwardly along the inside of the cover and around the static line 52 and across the top of the cover being secured by adhesive, or in any other suitable manner. After extending around the cover the static line .passes across the topy of the cover the shackles and the riser straps.

at 82 and in through an opening 84 and is stowed in loops 8B on the top of the inside of the cover, the end of the static line passing out of the cover through the opening 84 terminating in a portion 88 formed with an eye 9G which may be secured to any suitable part of the aircraft. The opening -84 is normally closed by means of a sealing member 92. The cover with the static line in place is adapted to be set into the top of the carton 20 and secured thereto by adhesive, Water glass, or the like.

The complete assembly is shown in Figure 1, from which it will be noted that the cover is sealed as described above with the opening through which the end 83 of the static line passes being taped in moisture-tight condition. The shroud lines are assembled upon the false bottom 54, the parachute is folded as shown in Figure 4, and the rayon tapes passed across the folded parachute assembly and secured by the weak links 42 and 44. The riser straps are stowed with the shackles 32 opposite the openings 28 which are closed by the cover flaps 30. The cover flaps are likewise sealed. The white cotton tie tapes 22 are used to tie the parachute pack to the load merely to hold the assembly thereto. The load is ultimately supported by the parachute through the riser straps 54 and the shackle 32.

In use the parachute pack, indicated generally by the reference numeral 2l, is tied to a load i0!) by means of the tie tapes 22. Normally a line |02 is tied around the load i for this purpose. The eye 59 of the static line end 88 is secured to any suitable part 104 of an aircraft. The shackles 32 are pulled out of the container 2li and secured to a pair of strong points upon the load. The riser straps 64 can be pulled out through the openings 28, the cover flaps 30 being removed when it is desired to use our parachute pack. Until just before use the assembled parachute within the pack is tightly sealed against the entrance of moisture or vermin. The seals for the flaps 3B are broken in order to be able to pull out The position of parts just before the drop is shown in Figure 5. When the load begins to fall, the static line pays out of opening 84, being pulled from the inside of the cover until the portion 82 becomes taut. The static line then rips around the top of the cover between the container and the cover in the direction of the arrows of Figure 4 and breaks the seal between the cover and the container 25 permitting the cover to be blown free, as shown in Figure 6. The tug of the static line upon the weak link straps 46 and 48 ruptures the 10D-pound weak links 42 and 44 substantially simultaneously. The weak link 14 of Z50-pound rayon braid pulls the parachute canopy 68 out of the container 2) by means of the bridle '12. The position of parts is shown in Figure 7. As the load continues to fall, the shroud lines 58 are pulled from the loops 55 upon the false bottom 54. The false bottom may remain in the bottom of the container 2B, though this is not necessary. The position of the parts while the shroud lines are being payed out is shown in Figure 8. As soon as the shroud lines have been payed out `they will tug upon and break the 'l5-pound weak link 10. The action of the air upon the falling assembly assists in this action and it frequently happens that the weak link 10 will break before the shroud lines are fully extended by the load. During all these steps the weak link 14, which is made out of Z50-pound rayon braid, keeps the crown of the parachute attached to the static line raw,

by means of the bridle l2. As soon as the shroud lines 58 are taut the Weak link 'id will be ruptured and the parachute canopy t3 will begin to balloon, as shown in Figure 10. As soon as the load is supported by the extended parachute canopy the riser straps 64 will become taut and rip the cardboard above the shackle openings 28. It will be observed that these openings are positioned near the top of the container 2i) to permit this action to take place readily. The load then is supported by the riser straps @t through two groups of shroud lines which are secured to the respective rings til and 62. The empty container 2l! remains secured to the load by means of the tie tapes 22 and the container acts as a stabilizer, tending to prevent swinging of the load.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a parachute pack adapted to house a parachute to protect it against moisture, mildew and from destructive insects and which may be readily and expeditiously streamed for use and will be automatically unpacked during the drop. Our parachute pack may be readily attached to a variety of loads without disassembling the pack. The parachute housed in our pack is adapted to be streamed in predetermined sequence which will ensure that it will operate without fouling. Our pack is inexpensive in construction and certain in its operation.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is therefore to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specic details shown and described.

Havingthus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A parachute assembly including in combination a container formed with a bottom and side walls, a cover for the container, means for securing the cover to the container adjacent the periphery of the cover, a parachute, a static cord, a rst rupturable link for attaching the static cord to the parachute, holding means including a second rupturable link for positioning the parachute inthe container, means for securing the holding means to the static cord, shroud lines, means for positioning the shroud lines in free running relation, load attaching means. means for connecting the Yload attaching means to the shroud lines and means for positioning the static cord adjacent the periphery of the cover in a position to render the cover-securing means inoperative when the parachute pack is dropped.

2. A parachute assembly as in claim l including in combination positioning tapes for attaching the pack to a load and means for securing the positioning tapes to the parachute pack.

3. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 including in combination positioning tapes for attaching the pack to a load and means for securing the positioning tapes to the parachute pack, said holding means also including tapes and means for securing said holding tapes to said positioning tapes.

4. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 in which said cover is formed with an opening, a bight of the static line extending into the container 6 through said opening and means for sealing said opening.

5. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 in which said holding means comprises a pair of second rupturable links, both of said second rupturable links having an aggregate tensile strength less than said rst rupturable link.

6. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 in which said holding means comprises a pair of second rupturable links and said means for securing the holding means to the static cord comprises a pair of tapes, one of said tapes being longer than the other whereby said second rupturable links are adapted under tension to break rapidly in succession.

7. A parachute assembly as in claim l in which said means for positioning the shroud lines comprises a false bottom and shroud line placing means carried by the false bottom.

8. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 in which said means for connecting the load attaching means to the shroud lines comprises a bridle, load attaching means carried by one end of the bridle. means for securing the other end of the bridle to the shroud lines, one side wall of the container being formed with an opening adapted to give access to the load attaching means.

9. A parachute assembly as in claim l in which said means for connecting the load attaching means to the shroud lines comprises a bridle, load attaching means carried by one end of the bridle. means for securing the other end of the bridle to the shroud lines, one side wall of the container being formed with an opening adapted to give access to the load attaching means, said opening being positioned adjacent the top of the container.

10. A parachute assembly as in claim l including in combination acrown bridle and means for attaching the bridle to the crown of the para- Chute and wherein said first rupturable link is attached to the bridle.

l1. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 including in combination a third rupturable link positioned adjacent the hem of the parachute and means responsive to the weight of the load upon the shroud lines for breaking the third rupturable link, said third rupturable link being of less tensile strength than said rst rupturable link.

12. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 in which the end of the static cord without the container is formed with means for attaching the static cord to an aircraft.

13. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 in which said cover is formed with a depending ange, said static cord being positioned adjacent the periphery of the cover between the container and the flange.

14. A parachute assembly as in claim 1 in which the means for positioning the static cord adjacent the periphery of the cover comprises readily rupturable means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,165,891 Martin Dec. 28, 1915 1,896,000 Kuhlemann Jan. 3l, 1933 2,146,990 Rousselot Feb. 14, 1939 2,337,168 Smith Dec. 2l, 1943 2,347,205 Lindsey Apr. 25, 1944 2,389,578 Quilter Nov. 20, 1945 2,439,318 Quilter Apr. 6, 1948 2,467,024 Frieder Apr. 12, 1949 2,577,737 Brown" Dec. 11, 1951 

